Whether you accidentally bump into someone while walking or step on someone’s
foot, it is a natural reaction to apologize afterward. Unfortunately,
saying “sorry” to another driver after getting involved in a
car accident can have severe consequences when it comes to your ability to recover
compensation for damages through a personal injury claim.
Apologizing Can Be Viewed as an Admission of Fault
By saying “sorry” after a collision, you are unintentionally
giving the insurance company permission to take your statement as an admission
of fault—or at least contribution—to the accident. When you
apologize, the other party’s insurance provider may argue that such
a statement protects their policyholder from any fault or liability.
The following are several other statements that may potentially harm your claim:
- “I wasn’t paying attention.”
- “I did not see you there.”
- “I was on my phone.”
Furthermore, if/when you are asked how you are feeling after the accident,
saying “I’m fine” or “I’m okay” can
be damaging as well. If you tell the other driver that you are feeling
fine after the crash, but experience pain and injury later on, it can
be difficult obtaining compensation for medical expenses since the insurance
company may think your injuries were not as serious in the first place.
The symptoms of car accident injuries may sometimes take hours or days
to appear, so it is important to seek immediate medical treatment to determine
the full extent of your injuries.
If you suffered an injury in a car accident in Connecticut that was caused
by a negligent driver,
contact Zayas Law Firm and request a
free consultation with our
Hartford personal injury attorneys today.